Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

The best advice I can give to students of the advanced course is to go through the material of the basic course before going to the advanced course. The advanced course exams cover all of the material from the basic course and the new material from the advanced course. If you have done the Wildlife Campus Game Ranging course then also bring that material to the advanced course as it more or less covers the material of both courses.

Birds, trees and mammals

As was the case in the basic course you'll be learning a lot about trees, birds and mammals. In the advanced course you'll be expected to not only know the common names for mammals and trees, but also the scientific names. Mammal behavior was covered in the basic course and it's expected that you know the behavior and distinctive features of the common mammals. During the course you're encouraged to read up about the animals and learn interesting facts about them. You'll need this knowledge to pass your practical game drive exam. During the course you'll get to know an odd 40 or so new trees (common and scientific names and traditional and medicinal uses). Make sure you start learning these trees early in the course as you'll need this knowledge in the two practical exams.

Tracks and spoor

Should you have a book on animal tracks and dung then read it before the course as a fair portion of the course is dedicated to interpreting spoor, tracks and dung. You'll be tested on this during a practical tracking exam.